Car-fender.



No. 68mm. I Patented Oct. l90l. E. AMREIN.

CAR FENDER.

(Application filed Dec. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Dot. l, l90l.

E. AMREIN.

CAR FENDER.

(Application flied Dec. 3, 1900.;

2 Sheets-Shoot 2.

m: norms PETERS ca, PHOT0-L|THO., wisummom D. c.

UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EDMUND AMREIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI; ASSIGNO R OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID J. SIGNAIGO, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-FENDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,719, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed December 3, 1900. Serial No. 38,416- (No model.

city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Fenders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to car-fenders; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

The object of this invention is to provide a rotary sweeper for use in combination with street-cars, which is also adapted to fulfil the function of a fender.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a car-truck, showing my invention in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing one of the sweepers. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating mechanism, by means of which the brushes are thrown into and out of operative position.

In carrying out my invention, as shown, I attach the plate 1 to the frame of the car-truck, and hinged to the said plate 1 is the plate 2, extending in front of the car-truck and having its outer end bent downwardly and attached to a bearing-block 3. The block 3 is provided with bearings in which the inner ends of the shafts et are journaled. The outer ends of the shafts 4 are supported by the vertical arms 5, having their upper ends secured to the supports 6, the inner ends of which are pivoted to the plate 2. Each brush is provided with its own independent support 6, allowing it to have more or less movement without disturbing or interfering with the location of the brush on the opposite side. Rigid upon each of the shafts 4 is a sleeve 7, projecting from which are the brush-splints 8, and upon the outer end of each of the shafts is carried a beveled wheel 9, the same being rigid upon the shafts 4. The wheels 9 are adapted to bear against the car-wheels and be rotated thereby whenever it is desired to use the device either as a brush or a fender. The outer ends of the brushes are drawn rearwardly by means of springs 1O,c0nnected to the supports 6 and to the frame of the car-truck. The normal position of the device is that in which the wheels 9 are in contact with the carwheels, whereby they will be rotated as the car moves over the track. The rotation of the wheels 9 also rotates the brushes,.the tendency of which is to raise and repel any object with which they comein contact on the track.

At certain times it is desirable to throw the parts into inoperative position and prevent the brushes from rotating, for the reason that their operation would stir up the dust and otherwise cause inconvenience during the movement of the car. I provide a means for so doing, which I will now describe.

11 indicates a bell-crank lever pivotally supported above the car-truck and having its forward end connected to the plate 2. The opposite arm is connected to a rod 12, which extends rearwardly and has its rear end attached to a lever 13, supported by the rear end of the car-truck. To the opposite end of the lever 13 is attached an operating-rod 14, which extends forwardly and is connected, by means of a flexible connection 15, to a shaft 16, the rotation of which will wind up the connection 15,and thereby operate those parts interposed between the shaft 16 and the plate 2, moving the bell-crank lever and raising the plate 2, and thereby the brushes. This draws the brushes upwardly and slightly forwardly, their wheels 9 moving out of contact with the car-wheels and remaining stationary and inoperative so long as the parts are retained in the position just described.

W'hen it is desired to lower the parts into operative position again, the shaft 16 is operated to release the rod 14, thereby allowing the parts to be lowered by gravity and the wheels 9 to assume their normal positions against the peripheries of the car-wheels, whose rotation will operate the brushes, as above described.

As shown in the dilferent views of the drawings, the inner ends of the brushes are in advance of their outer ends, thereby aiding the brushes in their operation to repel objects in the track.

By the use of my improved fender the track may be kept clean at all times,and the brushes instead of serving to draw the bodies underneath the car, as do some fenders at present in use, serve to repel them from the track.

No special construction of the car-wheel is required to operate the brushes, and no gear connections are made use of, since such devices frequently become broken or otherwise inoperative. Thewheels 9,0peratingdirectly on the periphery of the car-wheels, have been found to rotate the brushes perfectly. This simple construction avoids the use of many useless parts frequently made use of, and the device is also more satisfactory than those of more complicated construction.

I claim- 1. A car-fender,consisting ofa plate hinged to the truck, a bearing-block supported thereby, two supports pivoted to said plate, an arm carried by each of said supports, two shafts supported by the bearing-block and by the said arms, a friction-Wheel on the outer end of each of the shafts and in alinement with the car-wheels, brushes carried by said shafts, and suitable lever connections for raising the seams hinged plate and thereby the brushes, substantially as specified.

2. A car-fender,consisting of a plate hinged to the truck, and having its front end bent downwardly, a bearing-block carried by the lower end of the plate, two supports secured to said plate, an arm carried by each of said supports, springs for drawing said supports rearwardly, shafts carried by the bearingblock and the said arms, a friction-wheel on the outer end of each of the shafts and adapted to bear against the car-wheels, and lever connections for raising the said plate and thereby the brushes, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND AMREIN.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIOKS, J. D. RIPPEY. 

